Circular-knitting machine



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

J. E. GEARHART.

CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE. No. 479,639. 7 Patented July 26, 1892.

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(No Model.) 2 Shetg-S'heet 2'; J. E. GEA'RHART. YGIRGULAR KNITTING MAGHINE.

Patented July 26 1892.

awe/whoa gm I UNiTED STATES PATENT O FICE.

JOSEPH E. GEARHART, OF GLEARFIELD, PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,639, dated July 26, 1892.

Application filed April 7, 1892. Serial No. 428,182. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH E. GEARHART, of Clearfield, in the county of Clearfield and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circular- Knitting Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to circular-knitting machines; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, which will be fully described hereinafter, and particularly referred to in the claims.

The primary object of my invention is to simplify and cheapen the construction of circular-knitting machines in which the needles are operated by having their shanks engage a cam, by providing a base-plate havinga vertical annular flange which surrounds the cylinder that carries the needles, providing this flange with an annular bearing-surface for the needle-shanks, and at the proper point with a cam with which the shanks of the neodles engage and to have the cylinderrevolved within the said annular flange.

Another object of my invention is to provide the said flange with latches (preferably spring-actuated) at each end of the said cam, which latches form the cams for forcing the needles up just before they are forced down by the adjustable cam placed over the cam formed upon the annular flange of the baseplate, the latches serving to permit the machine to be run backward or in opposite directions for the purpose of widening and narrowing, as will be understood.

The objects of my presentinvention further relate to the specific construction of the different parts, for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a broken side elevation of a knitting-machine embodying my invention, looking from the side opposite the driving-wheel. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view with the cylinder removed, looking in the direction of the cams.- Fig. 3 is a detached perspective view of one of thelatches. Fig. 4: is a plan view of the thread-guide.

The main portion of my machine consists, essentially, of a base-ring having a vertical flange or portion A and the laterally-extending arms B, which form a jaw, the under one of the arms having a thumb-screw, whereby the machine is clamped to position, and the two upper arms having screw-holes for making the machine firm and immovable While being operated. Extending inward from the lower edge of the vertical annular flange A are several lips O, uponwhich a shoulder D at the lower end of the needle-cylinder E rests, the said cylinder having inside of this horizontal shoulder D a depending annular flange F. Secured to the outerside of and inclosing this depending flange F is a gear G, which is secured to this flange by means of screws. Owing to this construction the cylinder is supported by the said inwardly-extending lips and is prevented from being raised out of the flange by means of the gear-wheel, which is secured to the depending flange F thereof and engages the u rider side of the said lips. This also enables the said gear to be readily and quickly detached for the purpose of removing the cylinder or the gear-wheel. Depending from one side of the annular vertical flange Ais an arm H, which is provided with a horizontal bearing I at its lower end, in which bearing a shaft J is journaled. Secured to the inner end of this shaft is a bevel gear-wheel L, which meshes with the gear upon the lower end of the cylinder, and placed detachably upon the outer end of the shaft is an operating handle or crank 'M. This handle has its inner end passed through an opening in the shaft and then secured in place by means of a set-screw, as illustrated. By turning the crank or handle the cylinder is revolved through the medium of the gears, as will be understood, and within the annular vertical flange of the stationary base. This cylinder 5 is provided with longitudinal grooves upon its outer surface, which receive the needles N in the ordinary manner. These needles are provided with outwardly-extendin g shanks P, that rest upon the upper edge of the vertical annular flange A, the upper edge of which forms a support and bearing therefor as the cylinder is revolved. Formed or cut in this vertical flange A at a suitable point is a V- shaped depression Q, which forms a cam, as will'appear further on. Supported from and preferably cast as a part of this flange A is a vertical standard R at the apex of the V- shaped cam, and upon this vertical supportR is placed a V-shaped cam S, that is provided upon its outer side with a socket T, through which the vertical support R passes, and this socket also has a set-screw U, which passes through it and engages the said support, the socket and set-screw forming a clamp. In this manner the cam S is placed over the cam or depression Q in the annular flangeA and adjustably held in relation thereto, as will be seen.

At the junction of the upper ends of the depression Q in the flange A with the hor izontal annular upper edge thereof are the spring-actuated latches a, which are provided with outwardly-extending arms I), that pass through upwardly-extending projections c of the flange A. These projections are at the junction of the upper ends of the cam Q and the annular horizontal upper edge of the flange A and supported outside of the said flange to accommodate the said latches between them and the cylinder. These latches are cut away, as shown, toward their points or'free ends, so that they thus form pointed latches. The arms I) of the said'latches extend beyond the outer sides of the projections 0 and have each placed thereon a spring (Z, which has one end secured to the arm and the other end engaging the said projection, by means of which the free ends of the said latches are normally held down.

When the machine is in operation, one of the latches has its end or point resting upon the upper edge of the annular flange A, while the latch at the opposite end of the depression Q is resting upon the shanks of the needles. Thus it will be seen that as the cylinder is revolved in the direction of or toward the latch that is resting upon the upper edge of the flange A the shanks of the needles run up over the said latch, and as they pass up the inclined edge of the depression Q they pass under the latch at the exit side of the depression. The shanks, after passing up over the latch which they are approaching, strike the under side of the adjustable cam S and are forced down, and passing from the point of this cam they strike the ascending side of the depression Q or cam of the flange A and are forced upward, passing under the latch at the opposite side of the cam or depression Q of the annular vertical base-flange A.

From this description it will be seen that the needles are forced up, then down, and then up. The first upward movement over the approaching latch is slight, just sufficient to raise the latches of the needles free of the loop formed in the yarn and which is around the lower end of the latch. This then frees the latches from the loops, so that as the needles are forced down by engaging the under side of the cam S the latches are forced upward by the same loop that held them. The yarn is guided under the hooks of the needles just at apoint a little inside of the end of the cam S, and just as the needles are being forced down the latches closing the hooks of the needles, as will be understood. When the needles pass out from under the latches at the opposite side of the cams, the lower ends of the needle-latches, which have dropped after being released by the loops, are caught and held by the next loop while the cylinder is being revolved until it reaches the latch over which the shanks of the needles pass, which, as before stated, raises the needles, thus forcing the lower ends of the needlelatches above the loops and releasing them to be forced up by the same loop when the needles are depressed. By means of these latches, when it is desired to run the, machine in the opposite direction for the purpose of widening or narrowing, it is only necessary to raise the shanks of two or three of the needles that have passed under the exit-latch, so that when the cylinder is revolved in the opposite direction these needle-shanks will pass over the said latch, and those shanks which are under the latch will pass out, thus allowing the latch to drop down upon the upper edge of the annular flange A and pass under the needles which approach it, while the shanks will then automatically pass under the latch at the opposite side of the cam, as will be readily understood. The latches are thus made automatic in their action, only requiring that two or three of the needles be raised to allow the latch, which is resting upon the shanks, to drop and run under the shanks of the other needles, the latch at the opposite side of the cams automatically rising by the passing of the needle-shanks under it.

Pivoted to the upper end of the vertical support R is a standard 6, the inward movement of which is limited by means of a pin f, which passes through the said standard and engages the upper end of the support. This standard is bifurcated at its lower end to pass upon opposite sides of the upper end of the support and is doubled upon itself at its upper end to form a bearing 7t. Journaled in this hearing is a thread-guide 2', which has its inner end curved and passed around the outer side of the needles a suitable distance, as shown, and provided with a perforation through which the yarn or thread passes as it is being fed to the needles. Secured at its upper end to the inner end of thread-guide and at one side of the bearing of the said guide is a spiral spring m, which has its lower end secured to the socket of the adjustable cam S. In this manner the thread-guide is normally held down in position to guide the' 'end of the thread-guide under the tension of the spring secured thereto, as will be seen, and holds it in its proper relative position. \Vhen the thread-guide is reversed, the standard is pulled outward, so that the thread is carried from under the points of the needles that have not been depressed, and also to prevent the end of the guide from striking the needles while being reversed. By means of this construction it will be seen that a very simple thread-guide is constructed and one which is held in place by means of a spring and is readily reversible.

The adjustment of the upper cam S will permit the formation of a loose or tight stitch, as will be understood, by forcing the needles down the desired distance. Passing around an annular groove in the cylinder is a spring 9, which engages the needles and causes thereon a friction which will prevent the needles from being thrown upward by their momentum when engaged by the latch which they are approaching, thus holding them down upon the bearingsurface of the latch in the proper position to pass under the upper cam S. WVhen it is desired to miss stitches, it is only necessary to raise those needles which are not to knit with their shanks above the cam S and they will pass freely over the cam without knitting. The yarn or thread is placed upon a bobbin q, which is placed upon a pin 7", extending from one of the upper arms of the clampingjaw, and the thread then passes through the outer end of a guide .9, which has its vertical portion detachably screwed to the base of the machine and its upper end bent over to the opposite side of the cylinder to the reversible thread-guide. A take-up t is secured to the upper end of the guide 3, and over this takeup the thread passes, as illustrated.

By means of the above construction I simplify this class of machines very materially by having a base with a vertical flange that forms a bearing for the needle-shanks, and forming in this flange a cam for operating them, and then revolving the cylinder within the said base.

I do not desire to limit myself to any particular form of cam or to any particular way of forming it, the primary object being to form a cam in a base-ring and to revolve the cylinder within this ring, so that the shanks ot' the needles engage the cam of the base- This threadring as the cylinder is revolved, in contradistinction to forming a base, a revolving ca n;-- cylinder upon the base, and a stationary cylinder within the cam-cylinder, asis usual. By forming a base and providing the base itself with a cam and then revolving the cylinder within the base, I am enabled to greatly lessen the complication of construction and to produce a machine'which is infinitely cheaper, just as reliable, and easier got at for the purpose of repairing or for other reasons.

The tension upon the goods as it is knit may be caused by means of a weight or in any other way without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is V 1. A circular-knitting machine comprising a base having a depressionto form a cam, a cam above the said depression, a latch at the upper end of the said depression, a revoluble cylinder inside of the said cam, and a means for revolving the said cylinder.

2. A circular-knitting machine comprising a base having a depression to form a cam, a vertical support outside of the said cam,and a cam adj ustably held upon and at the inner side of the said support by means of a clamp, substantially as specified.

3. A circular-knitting machine comprising abase havinga vertical portion having a cam, a revoluble cylinder inside of the said vertical portion, carrying needles with shanks, a vertical support outside of the said vertical portion, a standard pivoted to the upper end of the support, a thread-guide pivoted or journaled at the upper end of the standard to be reversible, and a spring having one end secured to the inner end of the thread-guide and its opposite end to a portion of the machine.

4. A circular-knitting machine comprising a base having a vertical portion provided with a cam, a revoluble cylinder inside of the said vertical portion, carrying needles'with shanks, a means for revolving the cylinder, avertical support outside of the said vertical portion, a standard pivoted to the upper end of the said support, a thread guide journaled in the upper end of the said standard, having its inner end formed into a guide and the outer end formed into a handle, stops upon the standard which the handle engages, and a spring secured to the thread-guide for holding it to its proper position and also for holding the said standard inward.

5. A circular-knitting machine comprising a base having a vertical portion provided with a cam-depression, a spring-actuated latch at each end of the said depression, which is normally held at its free end upon the vertical portion, a cam above the said depression, a revoluble cylinder inside of the said vertical portion, carrying needles with shanks, and a means for revolving the said cylinder.

tion, carrying; needles with shanks, and a 10 means for revolving the said cylinder.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH E. GEARHART.

Witnesses:

A. G. KRAMER, V. C. MILLER. 

